William ‘Boomer’ D. McAdams
William D. “Bill” McAdams, 84, of Mulberry Grove, died at 6:06 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, at Hillsboro Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
He was the former post commander of American Legion Post No. 1180 in Mulberry Grove.
Funeral services were at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home in Mulberry Grove with Pastor Randy Whitehead officiating.
Memorials can be made to the Mulberry Grove Church of Christ, Gilham Masonic Lodge No. 809 AF &AM or American Legion Post No. 1180. Masonic services were conducted at 5 p.m. Saturday by Gilham Masonic Lodge No. 809 AF & AM.
William Donald McAdams, the son of William Phillip McAdams and Dora Rosalie Warner McAdams, was born on Aug. 11, 1932, in Eldred. He grew up in Jerseyville and worked for Daw Electric. He then attended Jerseyville High School. He joined the U.S. Air Force at the age of 17, serving at Scott Air Force Base near Belleville.
He then returned to Jerseyville, where he was a cab driver, Grayhound Bus driver and truck driver. He joined the Operating Engineers Local No. 318 of Harrisburg, later transferring to Local No. 9 in Denver, Colo. He was a heavy equipment operator and crane operator retiring in 2002 after 34 years. He and Betty moved to Mulberry Grove in 2008, where he was commander of American Legion Post No. 1180.
He and Mabel Elizabeth “Betty”Evans Jones were married on June 13, 1955, in White Hall, and enjoyed over 61 years together.
She survives, as do their five children, Michael T. (Vicky) Jones of Dacula, Ga., Sheriff R.L. “Butch” Conway of Dacula, Ga., Jan A. (Anthony) Satriano of Arvado, Colo., Roberta J. Jones of Sierra Vista, Ariz., and Phillip D. (Penny) McAdams of Greenville; 12 grandchildren, Jennifer, Regina, Amy, Zack, Amanda, Thomas, Julie, Tracy, Ginger, Sabrina, Jeanne and Timmothy; 21 great-grandchildren, Bo, Braxton, Garrison, Camryon, Colton, Bailey, Kaitlyn, Bryson, Paidyn, Stephanie, Bradley, Gianna, Kendall, Tommy, Electra, Brian, Trae, Caleb, Kimberly, Bethany and Jocelyn; and two in-laws, Warren Reidlinger of Cherokee Village, Ark., and Linda McAdams of Jacksonville.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Dora McAdams; a sister, Elfreda Reidlinger; and two brothers, Delbert McAdams and Robert McAdams.
He was a member of American Legion Post No. 1180 of Mulberry Grove, Gilham Masonic Lodge No. 809 AF &AM, and a member of the Mulberry Grove Church of Christ.